I have just finished filming and editing on a bunch of web films on How to Tile - lots of tips which will be put on YouTube by Dunlop, so I know how to tile - not that I can of course. I've been working with my colleague Andy Green at Leagus Video in Huddersfield which is always a pleasure.
We have recently completed a new prestige brochure for an existing client ECSC Ltd in Bradford for whom we have undertaken website development and graphic design projects. They required a high quality piece of literature that represented the full breadth of their offering. It was printed by our colleagues at Birch Printers who did an excellent job of the 245x245mm 16 page brochure that featured matt laminate and spot varnish to the cover.
Making a group of people who are normally seen as ... well let's face it. DULL! Now it was a tall order but I had a stiff drink and leaped in with camera in hand, and the result was a total of 13 films for Clough and Company Accountants including a 'who we are' type film (2 mins) and interviews with partners about their areas of expertise (60 secs each). On the shoot I tried to get some shots that showed their human side to intercut with the spiel about taxation regimes, and I think it worked. The client was very pleased, as was Martin Fisher from ThisisChemistry in Bradford a brilliant advertising agency who referred the work as part of the new look website for the company.
You can see for yourselves by searching cloughandco on Youtube
Or view this Clough and Company Profile Film on Youtube
I sometimes work with my friend Lee Martin, lighting gaffer on the recent Four Lions film, who is an expert on lighting as well as a top video cameraman when I am in director mode, he and I have worked across the UK on projects together and had a lot of fun doing so. As well as his range of lighting that supplements my own lighting rigs he collects a range of older redundant equipment in his barn in the Yorkshire Dales. I called in to pick up some lighting supplies, and after a coffee Lee was keen to show me his 1970s audio mic boom arm from a tv studio that he now has, complete with an elevating platform for the operator.
A recent video project completed was for the Yorkshire Concept Proof of Commercial Development Fund, which is a partnership between all the Yorkshire Universities and Yorkshire Forward. Academics who develop new ideas for longer lasting light bulbs, and the like, can apply to the Fund for support to develop their ideas further.
For this video we filmed at various locations around the region, including a the extremely old York Merchant Venturers Hall, which made a nice contrast with the high tech to be found on other locations at Leeds Metropolitan, York and Sheffield Universities. We heard from board members of YC, experts and academics about the value of the fund. The editing required a number of 'film' grades, and use of Magic Bullet effects to create a film which had a strong visual style which complemented the innovative nature of the subject matter.
Our client said: "In getting out the message of what the Yorkshire Concept Fund is about, to attract potential investors, possible commercial partners to funded projects and further applications from Yorkshire's universities I needed footage that reflected that diversity with a number of individuals in different settings and contexts to not only come across clearly but was also upbeat, dynamic and vibrant in its presentation. I am very pleased with the work Matt Dowson produced and impressed by his professionalism and approach to achieve what I think is a great result."
Once again we continued our pro bono support for the Diocese of Bradford Annual Lay conference on April 17th, 2010. Director Ruth Dowson worked with the Diocese closely providing our online event management system, and we also provided a live camera feed to the twin screens using the Sony DSR 450 camera. The online system allowed all 500 delegates to book online which means is quicker, faster, and cheaper with no postage costs and minimal staff time required at the Diocesan office to handle the bookings. A link to an online feedback form has been sent out to provide evaluation for the event.
Rev Canon Steve Allen said: "Many thanks for all your hard work yesterday. The day seemed to go really smoothly with registration in particular handled really well."
OpenCoffee in Bradford was worth getting to this week - a good opportunity to talk about my video production services to a group of designers and website specialists. I got talking to Jimi about editing on Final Cut Pro, and caught up with my old boss Steve Ding who runs bmedia. Even decaff coffee was available which makes a change. I have been busy with a film for Yorkshire Concept which you can see on their website Yorkshire Concept
Ian Green, Green Communications in Wakefield; Anthony Waddington of BeInvolved,
and Gill of bmedia
The new father Pete McClory (L) of Panoetics , amd the newly-wed Tom Gatenby (R) of Squashed Pixel who works in the same building as me, for the second time in his life,as we were colleagues at BTL Group in Shipley a few years back.
We're currently making a pair of films - one concerning the Future of Social Care for Older People - support etc so we're filming people in Bradford District to get their views on what they want, and how it should be provided and paid for. The other video is on older people's experiences of care in hospital, particularly for those suffering from mental health problems. We started filming yesterday at a Bradford Council event, and got some good stuff. One of the interesting things about video production is that you have the privilege to enter peoples lives for short periods when you film them for a video, DVD, or website. I heard some amazing stories as part of this Total Place project which is a national programme currently being undertaken by the Government.
